STUDIOCANAL release a 4K restoration boxset of four classic film adaptations of Agatha Christie novels. The boxset contains three classic Poirot mysteries along with a Miss Marple movie. Available on both 4K UHD and Blu-ray, the 4-disc boxset features a 64-page booklet plus 4 posters of brand-new artwork...

Marooned in a snow drift, an opulent Orient Express train is the scene of a brutal murder - a no-good American Tycoon lies dead with twelve dagger wounds, but which of the passengers is the guilty party? Belgian detective Hercule Poirot must investigate...

This 1974 production of Agatha Christie's 1934 classic directed by Sidney Lumet is a judicious mixture of mystery, murder and nostalgia. Which member of the all-star cast, onboard the luxurious train, perforated the no-good American tycoon with a dagger twelve times? Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot spreads unease among them with subdued wit and finesse.

The city is Istanbul, the time is the 1930's and it seems everyone aboard the Orient Express has a motive, could it be the victim's butler (John Gielgud), the shy Swedish Missionary (Ingrid Bergman), the English Rose (Vanessa Redgrave), the Indian army Colonel (Sean Connery) or perhaps one of the other star studded cast including Michael York, Jaqueline Bisset, Lauren Bacall, and Anthony Perkins.

Murder on the Orient Express has an excellent plot. This is the first of several Christie adaptations and introduces Albert Finney as the internationally famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.

This has to be one of the most successful screen adaptations of a Christie novel. Ingrid Bergman, although playing a dowdy Swedish Missionary, won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. In addition Murder on the Orient Express also received nominations for Best Actor (Albert Finney) Screenplay (Paul Dehn) Photography, Costume Design and was nominated for its excellent Music Score.

Agatha Christie, was always reluctant to give her blessing to use the film rights to her books. She believed that the movie studios were all about money and not about delivering a product that stayed true to the source material. But she changed her mind when she discovered that Richard B Goodwin was the producer that wanted to adapt Murder on the Orient Express. Goodwin was responsible for breathing life into The Tales of Beatrix Potter (1971), a film that Christie loved.

Albert Finney is almost unrecognisable in the role of Poirot. He was in his 20s at the time and had to be heavily made up in order to look convincing.

Extras include a new feature, Behind the Velvet Curtains: Jacqueline Bisset revisits The Orient Express; Interview with Richard Goodwin; Audio Interview with Michael York; Audio commentary with Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson; Agatha Christie: A Portrait; Making Murder on the Orient Express: All Aboard / The Ride / The Passengers The End of the Line; Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery; and Original Trailer.

9

 

Hercule Poirot is enjoying a holiday aboard a luxury Nile steamer, when a mystery assassin takes the life of an heiress and he is called upon to track down the killer amongst his fellow travellers...

Peter Ustinov gives an energetic performance as Poirot, in his first portrayal of the Belgian detective. As we cruise down the legendary river Nile in splendid luxury, a mystery assassin takes toll of a passenger list of internationally renowned faces, including Jane Birkin, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Jon Finch, Olivia Hussey, George Kennedy, Angela Lansbury, Simon MacCorkindale, David Niven and Jack Warden.

Death on the Nile is every bit as good as its predecessor Murder on the Orient Express, replacing the world famous train with the luxury Nile steamer, The Karnak. It is a mysterious journey down the Nile with nine star suspects, any one of them could be the murderer and everybody had a reason for doing it.

The boat begins to resemble a mortuary and Hercule Poirot faces the most daring and deadly case of his career - murder in 1st class, mystery in style.

This film gives us breathtaking footage of the Nile river, the Pyramids, Sphinx. A visually sumptuous and quintessentially British production, Death On The Nile won an Oscar® for Anthony Powell’s costume design.

Extras include Sparkling Homicide: A Video Essay by David Cairns (New to this release); Audio commentary with Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson; Making Of; Interview with Angela Lansbury; Interview with costume designer Anthony Powell; Interview with Producer Richard Goodwin; Interview with Peter Ustinov; Interview with Jane Birkin; Behind the Scenes stills gallery; Costume Designs Gallery; and Original Trailer.

8

 

The scene is set in the Coronation year of 1953 and the archetypal English village of St. Mary Mead. All is as it should be until Hollywood arrives in the form of an internationally famous film cast, leading to much local excitement and an epidemic of sudden death...

The Mirror Crack'd has an excellent cast from the cream of feature film actors including Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, Tony Curtis, Kim Novak, Geraldine Chaplin and Edward Fox.

This is the first Christie film to feature the legendary Lady super-sleuth Miss Marple, played by Angela Lansbury, and follows on from the successful Poirot pictures. The introductory scene, a black and white murder mystery movie, is a little disorienting and gets the movie off to a great start. Excellent acting by all especially Elizabeth Taylor who looks stunning.

A good plot with cunning detective work by Miss Marple, but I felt the film didn't flow as well as it should.

Extras include Reflections on Miss Marple: featuring Jean Kwok, Rian Johnson, Matthew Sweet and Mark Aldridge (new to this collection); Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson; Interview with screenwriter Barry Sandler; Interview with Angela Lansbury; Interview with Producer Richard Goodwin; Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery; and Storyboards Gallery.

6

 

A mysterious death in a glamorous hotel in the Mediterranean can only be solved by legendary Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot...

Evil Under the Sun must be my favourite of all the Agatha Christie films with a plot full of twists and turns which keep you guessing throughout. Peter Ustinov plays Hercule Poirot, once again, to perfection.

Filmed in 1981 on location in Majorca, Spain and directed by Guy Hamilton (The Mirror Crack'd and Goldfinger). Evil Under the Sun was selected for presentation to Her Majesty the Queen at the 1982 Royal Film Performance.

Again, producers John Brabourne and Richard B. Goodwin present us with an excellent star studded cast including Jane Birkin, Peter Ustinov, Colin Blakeley, Nicolas Clay, James Mason, Roddy McDowall, Sylvia Miles, Denis Quilley, Diana Rigg and Maggie Smith.

A brilliant transformation of Jane Birkin and excellently acted by all. A fantastic music score filled with classic songs from Cole Porter.

Extras include - Back to the Island: Emily Hone remembers Evil Under the Sun (new for this release); Excessive Creatures: A Video Essay by David Cairns (new for this collection); Making Of featurette; Audio commentary with Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson; Interview with costume designer Anthony Powell; Interview with screenwriter Barry Sandler; Interview with producer Richard Godwin; Behind the Scenes stills gallery; Costume Designs gallery; Original Trailer; Radio Spots; and The Royal Film Performance 1982: In the Gracious Presence of H. M. the Queen & H. R. H. the Duke of Edinburgh - At the Odeon Leicester Square.

10

Heather Simpson